Palm oil shipments from Indonesia surged 20 percent month-on-month to 2.09 million tons in April 2016 (from 1.74 million tons in the preceding month) according to the latest data from the Indonesian Palm Oil Producers Association (Gapki). Fadhil Hasan, Executive Director of Gapki, said Indonesia's palm oil exports are supported by declining edible oil output in several countries. High rainfall in Argentina and Brazil disturbed local soy bean harvests, while the US soybean harvest is weak as well. Furthermore, rapeseed harvests in China, India and the European Union are weak too, hence boosting demand for CPO.

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Contrary to expectations, Standard & Poor's (S&P), the most conservative among the world's top three credit rating agencies, maintained Indonesia's sovereign debt rating at BB+ with a positive outlook. The BB+ rating is the highest junk level, one notch below investment grade. S&P left the door open for a future upgrade but the Indonesian government will need to enhance its fiscal performance. Issues that block an upgrade are rising budget deficits in the years ahead and the decline in Indonesia's corporate credit quality.

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State-controlled financial institution Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) is scheduled to launch its satellite - called BRIsat - at 03:30 am local Jakarta time on 9 June 2016 in Kourou (French Guiana). BRI President Asmawi Syam told reporters that the launch is a milestone, not only for BRI but for the global banking industry as BRI will become the first bank to operate its own communications satellite. In Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago, a satellite is more efficient than fiber optic. With the BRIsat the bank is able to reach (potential) customers in the remote areas.

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Duta Intidaya, an Indonesia-based health and beauty products retailer, targets to collect up to IDR 90.8 billion (approx. USD $6.7 million) from an initial public offering (IPO) on the Indonesia Stock Exchange that is planned for June 2016. This would make Duta Intidaya, the operator of the Watsons stores in Indonesia, the fifth company to go public in Indonesia this year. Lilis Mulyawati, Director of Duta Intidaya, said the book building process for the company's IPO is conducted between 31 May and 6 June 2016, while the offering period is set for 17-21 June. Listing on the IDX is scheduled for 28 June 2016.

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